Southwest Ranches, Broward County, Florida - This past weekend I was glowing with pride when my son shot his first rifle He was nervous since he did not know what to expect, but after ten minutes following instructions from the National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor he was a natural. Before you know it the kid is loading the mini banana clip and hitting the target. Before we arrived to the gun club he wanted leggos for Christmas…NOW he wants a $250 rifle!
As I was there I met Sharon the owner and manager of Pops’ Gun Club (popsrange@gmail.com), one of the last free wielding gun rights Bastian in the tri-county area. It was previously founded by Pops Dean Bishop who unfortunately passed away in 2002, God bless his soul. The gun club is a Federal recognized 501-C-3 non-profit organization located at: 6101 US HWY 27, in Southwest Ranches. There are no signs announcing Pops except one tilted white mailbox and a Tea Party flag waving proudly. Sharon had a Broward Tea Party cap on and a Herman Cain for president button bigger than a jiffy peanut butter lid.
Sharon told me how an anonymous complainer called Pembroke Pines police, who then in turn called Sheriff Al Lamberti’s Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) who came down with 9+ squad cars raiding the establishment, blocking the single entrance/exit, and maintaining custody of the location without a 17th Circuit Court Order for hours. Seems Pops neighbors like the Broward Water Management and Everglades Holiday Park dislikes individuals who exercise their inalienable right to bear and shoot their firearms legally. They constantly harass Sharon using police, environmental rules, county regulations, and any other lame excuse they can find including ignorance to expel Pops from their long time private property.
On November 19, 2011 you would think the BSO along with Pembroke Pines police were apprehending radical Islamist wanting to bomb children. How did the club members react? They kept shooting at the range and having fun as certain BSO deputies could be seen clothing themselves in bullet proof vests in fear. The members behaved professional and respectful as they always are. BSO would not relinquish control back to Sharon until some mysterious “sergeant” arrived. Sharon was never told who the accuser was, the sergeant’s name was never disclosed, and the boots on the ground stated they did not know his name. Eventually they left as if nothing happened, but something terrible did happen. Certain gun loving individuals who were acting within their inalienable-right under the color of law had their freedom violated in the most liberal country of all Florida.
One of the reasons America is great is because it follows the rule of law. It’s very unfair when law abiding citizens are harassed and intimidated when they exercise their constitutional right in private. It is unknown if Lamberti is aware of what happened, but the excessive force used was uncalled for. Why didn’t a sergeant drive in and speak to the manager of Pops asking for an explanation to the complaint to determine if there is probable cause for a violation BEFORE calling in the big guns (pun intended). If Sheriff Lamberti is unaware then us conservatives must question why he is unaware.
The main complaint was that automatic gun fire was “heard” from the surroundings of Pops. Individuals with Federal permits can shoot automatic weapons, but they must first produce their permit before even unloading their firearm from their vehicles. When the BSO left they found NO law broken, no violations of County ordinance, and even stayed beyond a reasonable time to check the members out. Again, why not call Pops on the phone to dispel any concerns?
Many of Florida’s Law Enforcement, DEA, Federal agents use Pops Gun Club to train their ranks and give up-to-date classes on safety, firing practice, and tactical technique. Sharon has a ton of Florida & Federal law, legal opinions from the FL Attorney General’s Office, and Broward ordinances supporting Pops’ right to exist. Yet she is continually harassed by a bunch of pointy-headed-gun-hating liberals that would like her banished from Florida.
A call to action to those who believe in the U.S. Constitutional inalienable-right to bear arms. Please call the following and ask them to look into the continued harassment of Pops Gun Club and to investigate the uncalled for raid.
Call Sheriff Al Lamberti’s Political Campaign: 954-537-3056. 
Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca (R): 954-357-7004. 
Commissioner Barbara Sharief who represents District 8 where Pops Gun Club is: 954-357-7008
